By Lori Homstad, local business owner and mother of two

Do you like the game of Monopoly? Just roll the dice and you pay what you roll for your utility bill.  I’d rather get double sixes any day to the bill I just got.  SWEPCO concurred with me that our bill was above the average on our block, and since we have two boys, a swimming pool, a jacuzzi and electronics in every room, I figured as much.

Of course, the first thing I wanted to do was to turn out the lights, do the dishes by hand and unplug anything unnecessary. My family thinks I’m nuts. Instead of going back to the prairie days, I hired a professional to give us some sound advice — Gary with Home Energy Consultants. He graciously spent a couple of hours showing me many ways to really make some major changes and save big on my next bill. If you choose to call him, tell him I sent you, please.

Figuring out where your house is leaking heated air is his specialty. There’s a great DIY guide on this website:

Click here to see the DIY guide or print a copy.

I learned that tightly sealed windows are important, but covering them is even better. The best solution for this is up for debate, but one of our top-selling brands, Hunter Douglas, certifies that Duette®, Architella®, and Alustra®, Duette Architella honeycomb shades, manufactured with the UltraGlide®,  EasyRise™, LiteRise®, TruRise® or Standard Cordlock operating systems and used in conjunction with double-glazed windows are “Eligible Building Envelope Components” classified as an “insulation material or system”.

If you prefer an outside mount, we recommend DRAPES as your second best choice for keeping the warm air in and reducing the chill!

Pick a look. Any look. Drapery panels can be soft and romantic or crisp and contemporary. They can be left partially open or closed at night for privacy. They can be pleated or billowy, formal or fun. They’re not only very practical when it comes to reducing the loss of heat in your home, but they are a decorator’s secret  ammunition when setting a mood for the favorite room in the house.

If you can’t find one in our selection, you can bring us your own fabric. Espresso continues in popularity, coupled with various tones of green (wasabi, verdigris and kelp), pumpkin, and spa blue. Gray fringe is adding an elegant look to both contemporary and traditional interiors.

The classic color combination of black and white exhibits a strong presence. Coupled with strong accent hues of red, peacock, canary yellow, chartreuse and pumpkin, black and white is both a dynamic and contemporary color scheme. Natural berry tones of deep violet and beet persist in popularity and mix beautifully with subtle shades of gold, espresso, slate, Aegean blue and viridian. Teal, from a brilliant peacock to a quieter, softer aqua are also popular, blending beautifully with espresso, greens and grays.

The delicate, sparing uses of metallic accents can enhance the beauty of a fiber making for a very livable, contemporary, luxurious product.

There are many reasons why drapes should be a serious consideration in addition to blinds  and shades when insulating and decorating your home. We have listed a few, but you get the picture:

1. Privacy. The very best privacy is found with drapes. They completely prevent anyone from seeing into your residence; “even blockig out shadows to those outside your home” . Blinds have numerous open points in between the slats that actually decrease privacy and insulation.
2. Insulation. The number one energy efficient interior window coverings are drapes. For example, lined drapes can provide up to 50% insulation value. Whereas, horizontal mini blinds can only offer a meager 10% insulation value!
3. Cleanable. Simply put, drapes show less dirt, fingerprints, and dust accumulation than blinds. Drapes can go years without needing to dry clean them. They can be lightly vacuumed and some you may simply place them in your washing machine.
4. Damage Resistance. Do you have pets or smaller children who might accidentally cause harm to your window coverings? Blinds, particularly horizontal mini-blinds, are much more prone to damage than drapes. Aluminum or wood slats can be scratched, broken or chewed. Drapes, on the other hand, are really difficult to damage.
5. Cozy. Would you like to “soften” up the appearance of your home or rooms to make them more inviting, and cozy? There is absolutely nothing better than drapes/fabrics to create a “welcome home” atmosphere.

Home decorating trimmings make the decorating even more fun. A couple of ideas:

• Cluny lace, along with black patent leather eyelet and lace, feather, fur, iridescence, glitter and sequins add fantasy and decadence.
• If decorating with something lighter is your style, curtains are lighter weight than heavy paneled drapes and they are usually unlined suspending  from a rod by tabs, rings or rod-pockets. You can use curtains for the common odd-shaped windows found in Northwest Arkansas to add a splash of accent color to a room or soften hard lines.

Curtains can be floor length or stop at the window sill. One specialty curtain is a café curtain that only covers the lower portion of the window, allowing natural light to shine in through the top portion of the window. They don’t stackback on a traverse rod like draperies do, so think about using them decoratively in rooms. Curtains can be pulled back by hand, tied with decorative cord or held back by ornamental hardware.

Add a topper, like a valance, to add elegance to your curtains. Fabric selection is vast so you’re sure to find one to complement your décor. These are simple to swap out, so you can dress your windows for the season.

A Budget Blinds style consultant can show you dozens of ways to customize drapes with decorative rods, cording, tassels, hems and tiebacks. There are dozens of new trendy colors to choose from. Not to mention hundreds of fabric selections are available. Our fabrics range in colors and weaves from the purest  solids to the most elegant patterns and designs. We have simple cottons and linens as well as antique silks that will satisfy the most discerning tastes while catering to those on a budget.

The Home Design category is sponsored by Budget Blinds of Northwest Arkansas. (Click here to read more about this local company.) Budget Blinds has one-hour complimentary consultations. Let their design consultants show you the vast array of options for adding value to your home at prices that will fit into your decorating budget. Call their office at 479-751-6655 or click here to visit their website.